penetration and crew quality

[Stonefire]

In my game of ET against VB, his panthers were easily able to penetrate my T34/85 and SU85 at 2000m frontal. However, in my ET game with my Germans, my panther turrets (fortification) are bouncing rounds at 1700m off T80s, although still penetrating but bouncing more then in the first fight.

From what I can see the only difference here is that VB troops were elite with an added troop quality %, while my Germans are regular grunts.

So, does the crew quality somehow effect the penetration of the round? It shouldn't, but it kind of looks like it does.

It maybe a long shot, as I only have my poor old memory to rely on. But once opon a time in the past I think I read that better quality crew often get kills than lesser quality crews - simulating their better knowledge of the weakness of the enemy tanks, and their better skill to hit those places more often than lesser quality crews